Biting Cold (Chicagoland Vampires #6)(50)
Author: Chloe Neill

On the other hand…"There’s a hatred vacuum," I said, crossing my arms and turning back to him. "If humans aren’t out there protesting vampires because there are so many other things to protest, it leaves a gap for McKetrick to fil. Kowalcyzk’s stil in office, and as far as we know, he’l stil have her ear. He’s going to be pissed if folks are lovey-dovey in our direction. And he’l fire things up again."

"That does seem possible. Likely, even. He is motivated."

We were quiet for a moment, probably both considering the likelihood of another enemy raising the stakes around the House.

But when I looked back at him, his gaze was on the silk slip that barely covered me. Magic rose around us, swirling as desire deepened.

Ethan caressed my bare shoulder with a fingertip, and I shivered. I closed my eyes, my body warming as his hand splayed across my bare back.

"Ethan," I said, the word an invitation, but instead of bringing him closer, it broke the spel.

Frustration poured through me.

"There are plenty of things in the world to be afraid of," I said.

"But you are not one of them. Nothing but fear is holding us back from each other," I quietly said, then walked toward the shower.

"Where are you going?"

"To take a shower and get dressed."

"You are sun drunk if you think you’re going anywhere," Ethan said. "You need to recuperate."

My hand on the doorjamb, I looked back at him, my gaze as flat as his had become. "I don’t have time to recuperate.

Dominic is stil out there, and God only knows who he’s going after next. I need to figure out how to stop him."

Ethan pointed to the bed. "Get back over there."

"I wil not."

He arched an imperious eyebrow. "It wasn’t a request, Sentinel."

"Great, since I wasn’t asking for permission."

"You could have been kiled."

"Unfortunately, that’s true every day of the week. Danger is part of my job, Ethan. The one you assigned me to."

His lip curled. "I’m trying to remember my reasons for appointing you Sentinel. Was I attempting to teach you a lesson?"

"And who has learned the lesson now, Professor?"

He growled, so I didn’t push him further.

"We can’t argue every time I have to go to work. That’s not going to be productive for the House. Besides, you would have been proud of me out there last night, notwithstanding the fact that I nearly became ash. I managed to move a falen angel off his target and sweet-talk a cop into giving me back my sword."

"That is impressive."

"It is. And we both know I’m going anyway."

He fumed silently for a moment. "You are as stubborn as they come."

"We are wel matched, Mr. Sulivan."

Ethan humphed but relented. He turned to the side and held out a regal hand. "Go have a shower and report to the Ops Room."

"As you please, Liege," I said, then closed the bathroom door.

Why did al of our interactions have to end with a closing door?

Chapter Fifteen

PERFORMANCE EVALUATION

I found my leathers in my closet when I emerged from the shower, including the jacket Catcher had picked up during my rescue. The leather was clean and shiny, in perfect condition after a hard night’s work.

I got dressed and checked my phone and found a message waiting from Jonah. Not surprisingly, he was checking in, making sure I’d gotten the rest and blood I needed to recuperate. I messaged him back to let him know that I was stil alive, even if I could have used a few more hours’ sleep.

I also thanked Morgan with a message. I didn’t get a reply.

My grandfather was a little more loquacious. "Baby girl! You’re okay? Catcher and Jeff said they got you home safe."

The relief in his voice brought tears to my eyes. "They did great. Jeff was a hero – and he carried me out just like one."

He chuckled. "I’d tel him you said that, but you caling him your hero may cause more trouble than it’s worth. I’l cal your father and let him know you’re okay, although I’m sure he’d like to hear it from you."

I doubted he cared much either way, but I wasn’t going to argue with my grandfather about it. "Thank you, Grandpa. And speaking of trouble, I understand Mayor Kowalcyzk’s city got a lot more diverse than she’d imagined."

"Let’s just say her knowledge is now a little closer to reality.

In al seriousness, that woman was in some pretty heavy denial. I may not have many pleasant things to say about Seth Tate right now, but the man appointed me to office and usualy gave a fair shake to sups."

"Seth Tate is stil the unanswered question," I said. "It’s Dominic – the falen angel with the bat wings – who’s causing al the trouble."

He whistled. "I wouldn’t have imagined this world was possible if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes."

"I understand the feeling."

"At any rate, I believe everyone realized their secrets had very limited life spans. Better to come out on your own terms than be forced out by registration laws and black helicopters."

"That makes sense to me. It was a brave thing to do – especialy now, when the hatred’s a lot louder than the love. I’m proud of them for taking that step."

"I don’t know that everyone’s thriled about it," he said, "and there were certainly some dissenters, but it was time to do the right thing. Vampires have hoisted up the weight for long enough; it was time for others to do their fair share. I think they realized that."

We’d certainly tried to do our fair share, but it was our failures that stood out in my mind, not our victories. Chicago had nearly burned because I hadn’t seen that Malory was behind the chaos. Ethan had taken a stake because he’d come looking for me, and I’d nearly died for a punishment I’d basicaly volunteered to take.

Maybe Ethan was right. Maybe I would have been better off in the library.

But there was no time for self-pity. Not with Dominic and Seth stil out there. Not when others had work to do, as wel.

This was the time for graciousness and gratitude.

"Thanks, Grandpa," I said. "I try to do my best."

"I know you do. We al know it. Stay safe, baby girl."

"I wil. You, too."

We said our good-byes and I put the phone back into my pocket, glad that I had family to count on and turn to, even if it wasn’t the family I’d expected.

My phone cals made, I left my room and made my way to the basement. I kept my fingers crossed that everyone would be dressed and in an upright position when I opened the door. But I stil braced myself for horror, especialy when I heard loud thumping coming from behind the double doors – music, something of the techno or electronica sort, with a solid bass line and a strange, high-pitched melody.